Custom CDs and More Internet Broadcasts

The Internet has already changed the concept of entertainment; the future promises to change it even more radically as higher access bandwidth becomes available. Several months ago, I reviewed the Musicmaker site, where you can create CDs customized to the individual taste of the consumer. And I've recently reviewed a number of web sites that list a number of available Internet broadcasts from either radio stations or specific programs such as the Internet Top 40 Countdown or CountryCool.Com. This month we'll take a brief look at another custom CD site and explore some of the Country Music related channels provided with the RealAudio player.

Need an idea for holiday gift giving? CustomDisc.Com offers shoppers the opportunity to purchase CDs containing music customized to the individual taste of the consumer. While there are many different genres of music available on the site, there's plenty of traditional Country Music available from a variety of artists. The site boasts of more that 100 record labels signed up to provide a range of tracks. Unfortunately, as with MusicMaker, you won't find any current Country selections to add to your disc. This may change in the future as CustomDisc.Com plans to expand into regular brick-and-mortar record stores. Featured Country artists include Lynn Anderson, George Jones, Donna Fargo, Connie Smith, Jimmy Dean, Roger Miller and Kitty Wells.

You can search alphabetically through the artists or the song titles for a given genre. You can also access various lounges where you can make selections from a variety of style-related suggestions. However you choose to browse through the available selections, 30-second RealAudio clips are available for preview. You'll also find a "warning graphic" ("New Stereo Recording") where the selection has been re-recorded from the original hit by the artist.

The basic disc costs $5.99 for the blank CD and about $.99 for each song (some may be more). Ten songs should cost about $15.99 plus shipping/handling. You can charge your purchase to one of four major credit cards. To finish your CD, you can choose a title and cover art. Bingo, you custom CD is on its way in the mail. I haven't made a purchase yet, but the there were a significant number of available selections. When I try it, I'm going to sit down with my Whitburn book of Billboard Country Singles so I can make some intelligent choices. This site is worth a bookmark and a try if you're into Classic Country.

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